Finding



Dec. 15, 1931. A, E, WALLER 1,836,142

FINDING Filed Aug. 4. 1951 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Dec. 15, `193,1

ANTHONY E. WALLER. or PRovInENQE, RHODE ISLAND FINDING 'Appiieatibn mea August 4, 1931. serial No. 555,007.

This invention relates to a clamp for an i ear ornamentor fora similarfpurpose such as an ornament for a dress, hat or the like; and has for its object to provide a construc- 51 tion from two pieces of stock with' a springintegrally formed from one of the pieces toV force the two pieces together to securely grip a portion between the two pieces to which it is desired that the clasp may be attached.

10 .'Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient spring by slitting a portion of one of the jaws against which the other jaw may contact.

Y Another object of the invention is the proi vision of means for forming a relatively stiff spring by suitably manipulating the stock such as by concaving or forming a rib thereon. V

A further object of the invention is the provision of ears or walls bent from the stock of one of the jaws between which the spring is located and engaged by the end of another jaw pivoted between the walls. l

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: j

Fig. lis a top plan view of the clasp.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is acentral section with the jaws in closed position.

Fig. 4'is a central section of the jawsin open position.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 54,-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of 4.: Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one ofthe jaws showing a skeleton construction-thereof for attachment to ornamentshaving a pierced ornamental work therein. j

In the formation of certain ornaments such as those attached to dresses, millinery, or to the lobes of the ears, it is found desirable to provide a construction, the jaws Vof which are forced together by a spring and which may be pulled apart for opening or releasingas desired, and in order to provide such a construction which may be used as a finding for like.

attachment to ornamental plates andthe like, I haveprovided a pair of jaws, one of which is slitf to provide a resilient Vspring against which the'other jaw contacts forl iexing as the jaws move to open position, the construction being such as to be held in openposition after a certain pointl has been passed in the opening movement; and the following isa detailed description of thevpresent embodiment ofgthis invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished. Y

With reference to the drawings, 10designates one j awand 11 the opposite jaw of the clasp. The jaw 11'is formed narrow as at12, shown in Fig. 8, and is folded at one end p0rtion 13 to provide a portion 14, spaced from the main portion of the'j aw 11. The jaw 10 is formed concaved in cross section as jillus-I trated in Fig. 7 and the opposite edges thereof are folded to provide walls-15 which are spaced as illustrated in Fig. 5, between which there is pivoted the folded portion 14 of the jaw 11.

In order that a resilient action may be provided, Islit the jaw 1() as at 16 to provide a tongue or resilient portion 17 therebetween, which is flexed when in engagement with the portion 14 in the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, thus tending to move the jaw 10about the pivot 18 to cause the free ends 19 and 20 of these jaws vto Contact.` The concaving of thejaw 10 stilfens the spring to some extent,

but in order to further` stiifen the spring, I provide a rib 21 along the center portion thereof, extending partially along the tongue and partially into the bodyor towards the free end of the-jaw as illustratedin Fig. 1.

In order that I may define points of engagement for the free ends of `thej aw, I provideprotuberances 23 and 24, raised froml Vthe ,stock of the jawsat Vthe ends thereof,

which portions may engage and indent themselves into the portion tov which the ornament is attached, such as a garment or the lobes of theV ears when worn as ear 'drops or the .I have shown Vin the drawings the pivot as being formed `by Vtrunnions 18, extending from the jaw 10 but it is understood that any suitable pivoting may be provided as desired.

In use, the jaw 1l is soldered to any ornamental plate 25 and is cut away as indicated at 12 so that should this plate be a pierced construction it will not interfere with the ornamental openings therein. Y

In some cases, it is desirable to provide a means for attachment of a pendant member to the clip and for this purpose I provide an eye by slitting the bent portion 13 of the jaw 11 and pressing the stock out as at 26 to form the loop or eye 27 for the support of a drop or pendant member.

By providing a construction of this character the same may be formed inexpensively and yet one which may be strong and durable in construction of a type which may be furnished complete as a finding for attachment to any desired ornament.

I claim:

l. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws hinged together, one jaw being slit to provide a spring and the other jaw provided with a folded over end forming a U and receiving said spring and for engagement with said spring to cause said jaws to tend to move toward each other when the free ends are in engagement.

2. In a clasp, a pair of jaws, one jaw having portions folded at generally right angles thereto to provide parallel walls with openings therein for pivot-ally mounting the other jaw therein, the portion of the jaw between said walls being slit to provide a resilient integral spring for forcing the jaws together.

3. A clasp comprising a pair of aws hinged together, one jaw being slit to provide a spring and the other jaw providedV with a folded over end forming a U and receiving y said spring and for engagement with said spring to cause said jaws to move toward each other when the free ends are in engagement, and protuberances on the free ends of the jaws to define points of engagement for the jaws.

4. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one jaw curved in cross section to stiffen the same and provided with parallel side walls folded from the stock thereof, the stock between said walls being provided with a pair of slits providing a resilient portion therebetween and the other jaw pivoted between said walls and engaging said resilient portion to tend to move the free ends of the jaws toward each other when in engagement.

5. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one jaw curved in cross section to stien the same and provided with parallel side walls folded from the stock thereof, the stock between said walls being provided with spaced slits pro-V viding a resilient portion therebetween and the other jaw folded back upon itself and pivoted between said walls and with the folded back portion engaging said resilient portion to tend to move the free ends of the jaws toward each other when in engagement.

6. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one jaw curved in cross section to stiffen the same and provided with parallel side walls folded from the stock thereof, the stock between said walls being provided with a pair of slits providing a resilient portion therebetween and the other aw pivoted between said walls and engaging said resilient portion to tend to move the free ends of the jaws toward each other when in engagement, the stock at the :free ends of the jaws being deflected to provide protuberances extending toward each other to deiine points of engagement for the jaws.

7. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws hinged together, one jaw being slit to provide a spring and the other jaw provided with a folded end to engage said spring to cause said jaws to tend to move toward each other when the free ends are in engagement, and a rib extending along said spring to stiiien the same.

8. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one jaw curved in cross section to stifi'en the same and provided with parallel side walls folded from the stock thereof, the stock between said walls being provided with a pair of spaced slits providing a resilient portion therebetween andthe other jaw pivoted between said walls and engaging said resilient portion to tend to move the free ends of the jaws toward each other when in engagement, the stock between said walls being provided with a rib to stiffen the same and the spring formed therefrom.

9. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws hinged together, one jaw slit to provide a spring and the other jaw provided with a folded end to engage said spring to cause said jaws to move toward each other when the free ends are in engagement, and an eye slit and raised from the stock of one of said aws to provide for the attachment of a pendant or the like.

l0. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws hinged together, one jaw slit to provide a spring and the other jaw provided with a folded end to engage said spring to cause said jaws to move toward each other when the free ends are in engagement, and an eye raised from the stock of said folded end to provide for the attachment of a pendant or the like.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ANTHONY E. VVALLER. 

